Anti cancer lunch #2

Spiced carrot soup
Cinnamon biscuits
Spinach salad w/ fruit and walnuts
Fresh herb vinaigrette
Reverse osmosis water

Take one pack of organic baby carrots and steam them in 2 inches of water in a medium sause pan.

Meanwhile, brown one chopped onion in olive oil for about 10 minutes. Add 1tbls ground ginger, 1/2 tsp turmeric, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and one clove of minced garlic. Continue to cook another 5 minutes. Set aside.

When carrots are tender add them to the steam water along with the onion mixture and simmer for 10 minutes longer. When all veggies are soft remove from heat and cool until you can safely handle the soup. Put in a blender or food processor and spin until thick and creamy.

Warm and serve with cinnamon biscuits

Look at the "pages" side bar for this and other anti cancer recipes ----------->

Anti cancer breakfast #2

Ezekiel Sprouted whole grain cereal, blueberries, chopped banana, almonds. Serve with green tea.

If you haven't tired the Ezekiel breads and cereals, you are in for a treat.
 There are 8 grams of protein and  less than 1 gram of sugar, and 6 grams of fiber just in the cereal. Add organic milk and some other goodies and you have a power packed breakfast.

As far as green teas go I like Sencha, but a more affordable decent option is Newman's green tea.

http://www.foodforlife.com/product-catalog/sprouted-grain/ezekiel-49

http://www.newmansownorganics.com/food_tea.html

http://www.asiachi.com/masenchategt.html


You don't have to have cancer to eat high power food. They are all good for general health as well as being anti-cancer foods.

Power packed anti cancer dinner #1

I tend to eat lighter at dinner time. Here is what I had last night.

Organic egg salad sandwich on toasted Ezekiel bread.
I add  a tsp of fresh chopped parsley, 1/4 tsp of dill, and load up the greens. I like baby greens the best.

I sliced up 1/2 an orange and had it on the side.

For desert I had a cup of coconut chai tea sweetened with stevia and a splash of organic milk on top. Yum! If you haven't found Ezekiel bread yet, give it a try. It is made with sprouted grains. It has 4 grams of protein in each slice. Food for life is the company that makes it. Zhenas Gypsy tea makes the Coconut chai tea. It has cinnamon, ginger, cloves, & cardamom.

Power packed anti cancer lunch #1

Bean tostada w/ salsa and chopped red bell pepper, onion and lettuce
Desert: fresh cantaloupe drizzled w/ half a fresh lime juice

First let me say that I usually have some type of beans in my kitchen. Today I had pinto beans that had been made with a healthy dose of onion, garlic and black pepper. I just throw them in a crock pot overnight to cook them. I like to fry my taco shells in a small bit of grape seed oil to crisp them up. Then I just pile on the ingredients to my liking. I like my red bell pepper & onion chopped into about 1/8 inch squares. I use about 2 tablespoons. I serve this dish w/ home made salsa if I have time to make it, but today I used one of my favorite store bought types.

The only thing that would have made this lunch better would have been a Synergy Kambucha tea, but I settled for reverse osmosis water from the pretty crystal decanter I keep on my counter top.

There are at least seven healthy anti cancer, plant based, foods in this easy lunch. Also if you don't all ready know, grape seed oil is full of anti-oxidants. Easy to eat a delicious  rainbow and use food as medicine to prevent cancer.

Power packed anti-cancer breakfast #1

I am going to post my power meals. Really your creativity and personal tastes are your only limits to how much power you get from your food. By "power" I am referring to its ability to help you stay strong, full of energy, and fight cancer before you even know you have it.

Steel cut organic oats
1/4 tsp protein powder
hand full of your favorite nuts
hand full of your favorite fruit to sweeten- I like ripe banana for that
organic milk, almond milk  or coconut milk
dash of cinnamon

To this you can add any tincture nutrient such as B12, D3 or glutathione etc.... You can also add seeds of your choice. If you want bold flavor you can add coconut or almond oil (1/4 tsp) when you cook the oats. Be aware that if you use coconut or almond milk there is often sugar added. If you have a rushed morning you can make the oats ahead  of time and store it in the frig.

Serve with a nice cup of organic green tea steeped for 10 minutes to bring about full anti-oxidant power. I usually steep mine while I prepare the oats.

Light a candle and thank the universe for providing you with this power meal

Eat a rainbow to prevent cancer

Red fruits and vegetables are colored by natural plant pigments called "lycopene" or "anthocyanins." Lycopene in tomatoes, watermelon and pink grapefruit, for example,  help reduce risk of several types of cancer. Lycopene in foods containing cooked tomatoes, such as spaghetti sauce, and a small amount of fat are absorbed better than lycopene from raw tomatoes. Anthocyanins in strawberries, raspberries, red grapes and other fruits and vegetables act as powerful antioxidants that protect cells from damage.  Remember it is damaged cells that turn into cancer.

These are some examples of the red group:

• Red apples
• Beets
• Red cabbage
• Cherries
• Cranberries
• Pink grapefruit
• Red grapes
• Red peppers
• Pomegranates
• Red potatoes
• Radishes
• Raspberries
• Rhubarb
• Strawberries
• Tomatoes
• Watermelon

Scientific evidence suggests that lycopene may help prevent breast cancer. In an epidemiological study published in 2008 in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," more than 84,000 postmenopausal women were followed for about seven years, while documenting their incidence of breast cancer and their intake of lycopene-rich food. The authors concluded that consuming lycopene was associated with a noticeably reduced incidence of breast cancer.

Anthocyanins may aid in the prevention of breast cancer according to a laboratory study published in Phytotherapy Research in 2010. In test-tube experiments, scientists showed that anthocyanins extracted from blueberries helped inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells.

Orange/yellow fruits and vegetables are usually colored by natural plant pigments called "carotenoids." Beta-carotene in sweet potatoes, pumpkins and carrots is converted to vitamin A, which helps maintain healthy mucous membranes and healthy eyes. Scientists have also reported that carotenoid-rich foods can help reduce risk of cancer and improve immune system function, which when operating at peak will take care of any free radicals that want to mutate health cells into cancer cells. These foods are anti inflammatory as well, which leaves  your immune system free to take care of you rather than use its energy fighting information.

Some examples of the orange/yellow group include:

• Yellow apples
• Apricots
• Butternut squash
• Cantaloupe
• Carrots
• Grapefruit
• Lemons
• Mangoes
• Nectarines
• Oranges
• Papayas
• Peaches
• Pears
• Yellow peppers
• Persimmons
• Pineapple
• Pumpkin
• Rutabagas
• Yellow summer or winter squash
• Sweet corn
• Sweet potatoes
• Tangerines
• Yellow tomatoes
• Yellow watermelon

I know it is a lot to absorb right? So much information is often overwhelming. I am trying my best to put it into bite size pieces here so that one can learn a bit at a time. One great suggestion came across  for simplifying what the heck to eat  was to try and have three colors of fruit or veggie with every  meal.

Next Post: Putting it all together-delicious power food recipes

Anti cancer Veggies?

Yes! Cruciform veggies contain a substance called  Indole 3-carbinol (I3C).  They also contain sulforaphane. Both of these substances are powerful anti-cancer molecules. They can detoxify certain carcinogenic substances. They prevent cancer cells from becoming tumors. They also promote cancer cell death. I3C can reduce the bad type of estrogen that fuels breast cancer. Rates of cancer are lower in countries where these veggies are used often.  Just google any of the terms above and you will find a plethora of info on the net.

Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussel sprouts, bok choy, Chinese cabbage make the short list.
Anyone interested in yummy recipes? Let me know and I can start a folder for them on the blog.

Next: Why are orange and red things good for you?

Spices for breast cancer prevention

When I started looking into way to fend off another recurrence, I was intrigued by the use of spices to enhance nutritional value of meals. Some herbs such as Turmeric are well known, but I wanted to know what else was out there that I could grow and use. Turmeric by the way if you do not know, is a powerful antiinflammatory. I like it, but one can only eat it so often and still be a happy person. So what else did I find that I like? Here is a list:

Turmeric      -antiinflammatory
Mint             -blocks cancer cells from spreading
Thyme         -blocks cancer cell from spreading
Marjoram    -blocks cancer cells from spreading
Oregano      -blocks cancer cells from spreading
Basil            -blocks cancer cells from spreading
Rosemary    -blocks cancer cells from spreading
Parsley        -inhibits  blood vessels from forming on tumors, strong anti-oxidant
Celery         -inhibits blood vessels from forming on tumors
Ginger         -inhibits blood vessels from forming on tumors, strong anti-oxidant
Garlic          -blocks cancer cells from multiplying
Onion          -blocks cancer cells from multiplying
Saffron        -inhibits blood vessels fro forming on tumors
Clove           -antiinflammatory, anti oxidant
Cinnamon    -stabilizes blood sugar
Chili             -antiinflammatory

Now, this is not a complete list. These are just the ones I have incorporated into my diet. Each one can be googled along with the word cancer and you will have plenty to read and learn about each one. I learned a few things that are interesting in addition to the list. For example,  some of them work even better when used together. Turmeric and black pepper for example seem to enhance the positive properties of each other. Garlic and onion should be cut and left to sit before using. It takes a few minutes for the chemicals that are most beneficial to come out after cutting.

Well, that is enough for one day, as this list will keep you busy. If anyone wants me to post a few recipes to demonstrate how I might use these  just ask. In the mean time, if you want to learn more about this Sloan-Kettering has a nice page on this topic. Here is a link:
http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/about-herbs

Next Post: Cruciferous veggies- what the heck are they and what do they do for breast cancer?

Dark chocolate- My kind of Medicine

Dark chocolate, the kind that is 70% cocoa, contains a number of anti-cancer elements. It is as good for you, in this respect, as a cup of green tea or a glass of red wine. Antioxidants, proanthocyanidins and polyphenols work to slow growth of cancer cells and limit the spreading of tumors.

A mere 20 grams a day is enough to do the trick. That is the equivalent of about 1/5 of a regular size bar. I have tried several brands and I like Newman's Organic the best. It is important that you by the 70%  or higher because if you buy the ones with a ton of sugar, you will be undermining your efforts due to the fact that cancer thrives on sugar. 70% dark chocolate has a lower glycemic index than a piece of white bread. So enjoy this treat and know that you are doing something good for our body.

Next Post: What the heck is glycemic index and what does it have to do with cancer?

Green tea can beat back the breast cancer beast

Teas: Green Tea and Black tea contain certain antioxidants known as polyphenols (catechins) which  prevent cancer cells from dividing. Green tea is best, followed by our more common black tea (herbal teas do not show this benefit). According to a report in the July 2001 issue of the Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, these polyphenols that are abundant in green tea, red wine and olive oil, and protect against various types of cancer.

OK so what does a polyphenol actually do? They neutralize free radicals. OK, so what the heck is a free radical? A free radical is a molecule that circulates in the body and causes damage to cell structure.  Where the heck do free radicals come from in the first place?

Free radicals are natural by-products of everyday processes in human cells. Unfortunately, you can accumulate high levels of them from air pollution, tobacco smoke, UV radiation and other environmental sources. Free radicals contain a rogue electron, making them extremely reactive and destructive. They can trigger cancer cell division.

Green tea has a special kind of polyphenals called Catechins. One of these, EGCC keeps new blood vessels from forming on cancer cells. When you drink green tea EGCC spreads through the body by means of capillary vessels. These capillaries surround and feed every cell in the body. EGCC settles on the surface of cells and blocks the switches or receptors whose function is to set off the signal that allows penetration of neighboring tissue by foreign cells such as cancer cells. It also blocks the ability of cancer cells to create new blood vessels for themselves. Once receptors are blocked they no longer respond to the orders that cancer cells send out through inflammation factors to invade tissue and make new vessels needed for tumor growth. The sneaky little bastards are stopped in their tracks.

Green tea also acts as a detoxifier for the body by activating the liver to eliminate cancerous toxins from the body more rapidly. Some studies have shown that pairing green tea with dark chocolate increases the cancer fighting ability of both green tea and the dark chocolate. Didn't know dark chocolate was good for you? Come back tomorrow and learn why.

Next post: Dark Chocolate as breast cancer medicine?